Boston research labs designated as Biosafety Level 3 or 4 — facilities that house potentially dangerous pathogens — must now meet stricter safety regulations as a result of a Sept. 19 Boston Public Health Commission decision.
The new regulations are tailored specifically to Boston University’s controversial Level 4 Biosafety Laboratory, slated to open in the South End in 2008. The biolab, which would be Boston’s only Level 4 lab, has drawn fire from concerned citizens and City Councilors who say it poses a risk to Boston’s 600,000 residents.
“This particular regulation was designed very much with the [planned] Level 4 lab in mind,” said BPHC policy director Kristin Golden. Opponents of BU’s lab were “very vocal” during the process, she added, saying the Board adopted many of the recommended rules.
Golden said the lab’s opponents, proponents and regulators are satisfied with the new regulations, which were designed to increase safety at all labs in the city, not just the BU lab. The new rules — which forbid labs from developing weapons or performing classified research — are meant to “increase safety at the labs in Boston and prevent any possible explosions or illness, not only for the community, but for the people working in the labs, as well,” she said.
“As time goes on, we can always revisit and see if we need further expansion,” Golden added.
A BPHC press release quoted Mayor Thomas Menino thanking the Commission for its thoroughness in creating regulation, which he called “both meaningful in terms of safety, and supportive of the important work that laboratories do.”
In addition to adhering to bans on weapon production and secret research, all Level 3 and 4 labs must obtain operating permits from the BPHC, set up institutional committees with at least two active community members and submit regular progress reports to the BPHC.
All such labs must inform the public of research being conduct by holding regular public meetings, as well.
Under the new rules, Level 4 labs must set up a “community benefits program to support local health and safety needs,” according to the press release.
Labs that fail to comply will face penalties of $1,000 per day per violation, as well as suspension of research.
Ellen Berlin, Boston University’s corporate communications director, said BU’s scientific community did not consider the new rules a hindrance and said they would not seek to contest them.
“We understand why they’re important,” she said.
“We’ve always been in compliance with all regulations, and of course we will be in compliance with this one,” she continued, pointing out that BU already implemented a committee consisting of two community members.
Yet Golden admitted that, while BU may have been sited for errors in the past, in terms of distinct rules, there were only “a couple on the books.”
In the press release, BPHC Executive Director John Auerbach previously called existing regulations “almost nonexistent.”
The BU lab has until April 2007 to comply with the new regulations and complete permit applications. Until then, they may continue to operate as usual. Golden said that even though there was a definite need for new rules, BPHC officials did not believe the lab will pose a safety risk in the 200 days before the rules are enforced.
The labs already “have good biosafety in place,” she said. “I don’t think that [the new rules are] because the labs are by and large dangerous places — we just need a little bit of additional oversight.”
“The city went into this [regulation] process because they wanted to gain a better understanding of labs, not only in a university setting but also in private companies,” Berlin said. “And I think these regulations will do just that.”
“We trust the labs, and we know that they’re operating safely, so these next six months won’t pose any problems,” she added.